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bookish_mrs_w's review against another edition
4.0
It’s always refreshing reading middle grade books with middle school characters that actually reflect current middle schoolers! Sometimes MG can be written almost too juvenile that it misses it’s Target audience. James Patterson does an amazing job with Ali Cross. He wrote a character that many middle schoolers can relate too. It was a great crime mystery while still keeping true to his adult Alex Cross series! Crime/Detective Mysteries are not my normal genre, but I will definitely be continuing this series and continuing to recommend Ali Cross for a great MG read!
karlin0336's review
4.0
Loved this quick Middle-Grade mystery! Mystery is quickly becoming one of my go-to refresher genres for when I need something different to read between Fantasy books. I wish I'd read this one sooner. It was so much fun! Though I'm becoming less and less drawn to Middle Grade novels, this book was something special. It didn't feel too childish (indeed, it got very serious at times), and yet it didn't lose that innocent charm of that age. It honestly felt to me more like an early YA book (a transition between Middle Grade and YA). The Audiobook narration was top-notch (I enjoyed the performances of both narrators). There were so many heartfelt moments. I loved Ali and his relationship with his dad. I loved the references to God throughout the novel. I quite liked.the references to James Patterson's Alex Cross novels (I have not read them, but I was able to recognize some definite tie-ins based on what I know). I hope to listen to the audiobooks for the two sequel books in the near future! Four Stars ****
thehobb's review
4.0
This was a pretty good middle-grade crime novel, and I really enjoyed it. Sure, it was a bit cliche at times, and the writing style wasn't as good as others, but I still liked it nonetheless.
katrenia's review against another edition
4.0
A fun middle grade detective book. Enjoyed listening to this with my 11yo nephew.
noleneshania's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
thecamilleae's review
5.0
Awesome book! My son (a 4th grader) and I were glued to every word. It's a great, modern kid-friendly mystery yet fun for adults to read too. We read a few chapters each night and couldn't wait to get back to the book the following night. The book could easily be converted into a film that we would happily watch. The perspective of both Ali and his dad, Alex, were interchanged at the most useful times to move the plot along. I would definitely recommend this book to those young and old.
luvstitch626's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
olivia_lauren_reads's review
4.0
Great middle grade book! Themes include friendship, family love and loyalty, about being kind to others even if it is not reciprocated, and touches on how the actions of cops can be perceived.
No cursing or adult themes. Just a mystery about a kid investigating his friends disappearance and hoping to follow in his detective father’s footsteps.
No cursing or adult themes. Just a mystery about a kid investigating his friends disappearance and hoping to follow in his detective father’s footsteps.
candylovegirl's review
2.0
As always with James Patterson books I found this to be an easy read. I had requested it through my library since it was a new release and did not realize it was a young adult/middle grade book. I flew threw it in less than two hours. Decent story that kept moving and definitely geared to a younger audience. I did enjoy that it was only Patterson writing - I can usually tell when there is a co-writer. Recommend for younger readers and hard core adult Patterson fans.